NHL : Gretzky Ready to Skate Friday

Silence the whispers. Ignore the rumors. Put aside the fears. Wayne Gretzky is back.

The Kings’ star center appeared at Caesars Palace Wednesday to declare himself ready, willing and able to return to the ice Friday night for his team’s unique exhibition against the New York Rangers at the Las Vegas hotel.

The Kings ran their exhibition record to 2-2-1 Wednesday with a 3-2 victory over the Stanley Cup champion Pittsburgh Penguins at Portland, Ore.

Gretzky had remained in Canada since injuring his back 10 days ago in the Canada Cup tournament, leaving his condition to return for the Kings’ first regular-season game on Oct. 4 open to conjecture.

After being hit from behind by Gary Suter in the Canada Cup finals, Gretzky, suffering from back spasms, missed the last game. It was the same kind of injury that had knocked him out of the Stanley Cup playoffs two seasons ago.

“First of all, whether I was injured or not, I wouldn’t have started skating until about this time,” Gretzky said Wednesday. “I haven’t skated at all yet. I have a doctor’s appointment (this morning) in Los Angeles. At that time, I expect to get the green light to skate. And I’ll skate (today) and play Friday. . . . I hyper-extended my back. The only thing that can heal it is time. I’ve had 10 or 11 days, and it feels much better.”

Gretzky saw a difference between the Canada Cup and Stanley Cup injuries.

“Part of the reason my back wasn’t so bad this time, as it was last time was because I was in better physical condition than I was when I was hurt before,” he said. “Because I’m 30 years old now, I have to keep an edge and keep one step ahead. The way to do that is through fitness.”